Snap-switch.



. Patented Dec. 9, |9052.

H. REEVE. SNAP SWITCH. (Application med Ps1-1.112, man.)

(No Mod'el.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. REEVE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SNAP-SWITCH.-

SPEGIFICATION formngpart of Letters Patent No."71`5,5 11 dated December 9, 1902.

.Application tiled February 12,

To all whom it may concern.:v

Be it known that I, HENRY E. REEYE,a citizen of the. United States, residing in the borougli of'Brooklyn, city of N e'w York, State of New York, have invented a certainvnew and useful Improvement'i'n Snap Switches, of

which'the following is a description.

My invention relates to improvements in snap-switches adapted for eective operation 1o in anyfplane from horizontal to vertical, andl henc'edesigned forpuse particularly as a ceil- I ing or wall switch.

The objects of therinveuti'on are to provide and produce a very simple and eifective I5 device for the purpose having relatively few v parts, which can be stamped or otherwise cheaply produced and assembled and wherein the spring which actuates the contact devices comes into play only when it has been zo Iirst placed under its maximum tension, in

which respect my improved switch complies with the requirements ofl the fire underwriters of several of the larger American municipalities.

3c exterior of the switch of the preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 4.; Fig. 3, a section ou the line 3 3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section on the li-ne 44ofFig. 2; Fig. 5, a section'onfthe'line5'5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 a` detail view illustrating one of the spring-conl K tacts. 'f

In all r`.of theabove `views correspondingy 4o parts are represented by the same numerals f of reference.`

The base 1 is made of some Isuitable insu-vV lating materialas porcelain, 'hard wood-jor vulcanizedrubber-and in the case of a with -the switch is madef4 lNormally bridging 5vo oppositepairs of contact springs 2-.-'z. e.,

when the circuit. is closed-are the' contactplates or knives 5 5, which are carriedbe-- In order that the invention may be better ouf b1e-break switch is provided withjfour sets of contactesprings 2 2, carried bypla'tes 3, secured/within the base .land having binding.y

. screws 4,.by means of which proper contact- 19'02. serai Nn. 93,692. (Nomodi.) i

tween disks 6, being insulated therefrom by mica disks 7, the. parts being secured together by rivets 8, from which the contactplates 5 are insulated. The disks 6 6 are formed with central openings through which passes a shaft 9, which supports themoving member of the switch, and said shaft may, if desired, extend through the base' 1 and be Aprovided with a nut l0 on its outer end. The shaft 9 passes through and is secured to a barrel 11, carrying a plate 12 at its bottom and an actuating-latch 13 at its top. The plate 12 is provided with one or more openings 14 therein, which engage over pins 15, passing up from the movable switch member, so that as the plate 12 is swung from one side to the other i he contact-plates 5 will be successively moved to make and break the circuit between corresponding pairs of contact-springs. The

shaft 9 passes beyond the barrel 11, throughv able independently of the shaft 9 and thatthe barrel 11, plate 12, and latch-plate 13 are movable with said shaft. ever, the-latter elements may be mounted independently of the shaft. is essentially {ish-shaped in elevation, being formed with the cam portions 2O at its sides and with the straight guide-cams'21 at its rear or tail'portion. The cam-latch is also yprovided at its front witha'stud or pin 22, which works within a curved slot 23 in' the Abottom plate 16. Each ofthe swinging arms. -17 and 18 is formed with a hollow pin or rivet. J .p .24 atlits end,` [working .in curved slots 25 -in' the bottom plate 16, 'andsaid rivets or pins exi-tending both 'above' and bellow said plate. A coiled spring 26surrou`nds' th'e barrel 11,

lf desired, howl The cam-latch 13 l 'and its endsare inserted-in the pins or rivets 24one of which extends a greater distance below the plate 16 than the other, so as to more eiectively receive lthe-lower end of the 'spring 26, as will be'understood. Mounted to. reciprocate upon and'with res'p'jeitl to the bottom plate 16 isa frame 27, through the' lower member 28 of which extendsastud .or

pin 29, working in a slot 30 in the bottom plate 16. The pin 29 is carried by the rear end of an 'arm 31, formed with two'hooks 32 and with a pointed forward end 33, constituting two inclined'cams running from the point to said hooks. The hooks 32 are adapted to engage successively with the portions of the studs 24 above the plate 16 in the operation, as will be explained. The pin 22 on the fish-shaped latch extends up into the path of the pointed forward end of the hooked arm 31, so as to deflect said arm from one side to the other as it is moved toward and with respectv to said piu. The frame 27, which carries the hooked arm 31, is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 4 and'is returned to that position when moved therefrom by a spring 34, surrounding the pin 29 between the hooked arm 31 and the lower member 28 of the frame and anchored atits ends against lugs 35, carried by the plate 16. The frame 27 is moved back and forth to 0perate the switch by any suitable mechanical devices. As aconvenient embodiment of the invention I illustrate a block 36, mounted to slide with respect to a top plate 37, the latter being connected to the bottom plate 16 by suitable posts 38. The block 36 is provided with a shank which extends through a longitudinal slot in the top plate 37 and connects with the frame 27, so that as the said block is reci procated back and forth on the plate 37 the frame will be similarly moved. Opposite to the block 36 is a stationary block 39, carried by the plate 37. These blocks are provided with rollers 40over which runs a chain or wire 41, the latter being anchored at one end in one of the blocks, as shown. By this arrangement a definite movement of the chain or wire 41 produces ha'lf the movement of the movable block 36, so that the operation of the device will be very easy and smooth. 1 At the same time it will be evident that he switch can be placed either in a horizontal or Vertical position without affecting the proper pull of the operating chain or wire. In order to protect the operative parts of the device, a.

frame or casing 42 is secured by means of screws 43 to the top plate 37 and extends `down to make a flush joint with the base l.

In operation the parts will normally occupy the position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 4, which, it will be assumed, represents the switch as having broken the circuit,the blades 5 being withdrawn from their bridging position with respect to adjacent contacts 2. In

this position one of the hooks 32 of the hooked arm 31 is located immediately over one of the studs 24 of the arm 18, for example. The pin 29 occupies its forward position in the slot 30 and is engaged by 'one of the tail-cams 21 of the fish-shaped latch-plate 13, so as to lock said latch-plate in the position shown in full lines.' One of the side cams 2O of said plate bears against'the pin 240i' the other arminthe assumed case the arm 17. When stress is imposed on the'chain or wire 41, the block 36 will be moved toward the block 39, moving the frame 27 rearwardly. The hooked arm 31 is carried by this frame, and its hook en gaging the pin 24 of the arm 18 swings said arm with respect to the pin 29, so as to iinposean additional tension on the spring 2n. The pin 24 of the arm 17 engaging the camshoulder 2O of the plate 13 tends to turn tho barrel 11; but the tendency is restrained byv reason of the engagement of the tail 21 of the latch 13 with the pin 29 of the frame 27. When', however, the frame 27 reaches the end of its rearward movement, the pin 29 will be moved out of engagement with the tailof the latch 13, so as to release the latter, whereupon the latch 13, barrel 11, and plate 12 will be oscillated through a part of a circle by the action ofthe spring 26, moving the pin 2-1 of the arm 17 forwardly and carryingr the movable portion of the switch with the plate 12 and engaging the knives or contact-plates 5 with adjacent pairs of contact-springs 2, so as to bridge said springs and complete the circuit. When the pin 24 of thearm 17 has been thus moved forward to swing the latch-plate 13 and the movable element of the switch, it will be in position to be engaged by one of the hooks of the arm 31 on the next operation. The

.other cam portion 2O ofthe latch 13 engages the pin 24 of the arm 18, so as to hold that pin in the rearward position of its slot until the latch 13 is again released. The position of the parts immediately after the latch-plate 13 has been released and swung to one side is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The movement of the frame 27-having etected a tripping of the plate 12 to move' the switch, the spring 34 returns the parts to their normal position. In this return movement the front of the hooked arm 31 will engage the pin 22 of the latch 13, and said hook will be swung pivotally to one side, so as to engage the pin 24 of the arm 17 on the next movement. When,

`therefore, the wire or chain 41'isV again opel atedl to move the frame .27 rearwardly, the hook of the arm 31 will engage the pin 24 ot' the arm 17, so as to impose tension on the spring 26 in the opposite direction from that ot' the first movement, whereby when the pin 29 again clears the tail of the latch 13 the plate l2 will be snapped inthe opposite direction to return the contactplates 5 to their nor mal open-circuit position. In other words, in the operation of the switch the latch 13 is locked against movement by the engagement of the .pin 29 with its tail and is released when the pin clears its tail, whereupon one of the pins 24, moving forwardly, swings said latch to partially rotate the plate 12. On the next forward movement the hooked arm 31 is swung to the other side, so as to engage the other pin 24, tending to turn the latch 13 in the opposite direction. During one rearward movement of the pin 29 it travels on one side of the tail of the latch 13,4 and on the next move- .meut it travels on the opposite side of said tail.

ICO

IIO

IPatent, is as follows:I

'Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 1. In a snap-switch, the combination with a movable contact, of a latch movable with the same, a reciprocating frame, anda stud movable with said frame for locking the latch in either of two positions and for releasing the latch at the completion of the stroke of said frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a snap-switch, the combination with a movable contact, of a reciprocating frame, an oscillating latch connected to said contact, a stud carried by the frame for locking the latch in either of two positions and for releasing said latch during one ofthe movements ot' said frame, and means operated by the movement of the frame for turning the latch when the latter is released, substantiallyas set forth.

In a snap-switch, the combination with a movable contact, of a reciprocating frame, l an oscillating latch connected to said contact, a stud carried by the frame for locking the latch in either of two positions and for releasing said latch 'during one of the movements of said frame, and a hook-carried rby the frame for turning the latch when the lat? ter is released, substantially as set forth' 4. In va snapswitch, the combination with a movable contact, of a reciprocatingr frame, an oscillating latch, a pin carried by said frame for locking the latch in either of twoE positions and for releasing'l the latch during the movement of said frame, an oscillating hook for moving said latch when the latter is released, and a pin on said latch for oscillating said hook on the'non-operative stroke'of the-frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In a snap-switch, the combination with a movable contact, of an oscillatinglatch conn'ected to said contact, a reciprocating fra'me carrying a pin for lock-ing said latch in either of two positions, a hook on said frame, elastic connections between said hook and the latch for swinging the latter to one side or" 6..In a 'snap-switch, the combination with a movable contact, of an oscillating latch conwith-the oscillating latch as set forth, an elasl tic connection between the said studs, and a pin on the oscillating latch for swinging the #hooked arm on, the non-operative stroke ofy the frame, substantially as set forth.

` 7. In a snap-switcmthe combination with a movable contact, of an oscillating latch, a reciprocating frame carrying a pin for locking the latch in'eithfer one of 'two l positions,4

a hooked arm vvpivoted to said frame,fapair of arms pivoted concentrically to said oscillat ing lat-ch, studs; on said arms coperating with said latch andwith which the hooked arm a1- studs, and ymeans for swinging said hooked arm to alternately engage thesaid stnds, substantially as set forth. t f

8. In a snap-switch, the'combin'ation witha movable contact, of an. oscillatinglatch, a

reciprocating frame carrying a pinv for ,lockff 7"v ternately engages, a springconnecting said' ing the latch in either one'lof two positions, a

hooked arm `pivoted to said frameya pair of arms pivoted concentrically to said oscillat-r in g latch, studs on said arms cob'peratingwith said latch and with which the. Ahooked afin al? ternately engages, a 'springI connecting'fsaid studs, and a pinl on the oscillating `latch-for swinging said hooked arm into alternate engagement with the said studs, substantially as set forth.

9. In a switch, the combinationwith a movable contact and a framev for operatingA the same, of a movable lblock carried' by.1 said frame, a stationary block,opposetthemovable block, rollers carried by sad'"blocks',fand

a pll wire or chain coperatingwithsaid `1loll` ers, substantially as set' forth." f

This specification signed and witnessed thisV '95 27 th day. of January, 1902. Y

v vHENRY REEVE. `Witnesses: 4

FRANK L. DYER, JNO. ROBT. TAYLOR. 

